Rugby: Messam confirmed as replacement

Liam Messam. Photo / Getty Images

All Blacks loose forward and New Zealand Maori Captain Liam Messam has been confirmed as the replacement player for the injured Adam Thomson in the Commonwealth Games Sevens team.

Thomson was ruled out of the team early last week with a knee injury.

Messam was part of Coach Gordon Tietjen's Commonwealth Games gold medal winning team four years ago in Melbourne and will be hoping to add another medal to his tally when he heads into a pre-departure camp with the team on Wednesday.

Tietjens said the Waikato and Chiefs player was a welcome addition to the team.

"Adam was a big loss but we have been fortunate enough to now include Liam in our preparations.

"He has had the experience of playing in a Commonwealth Games before and that will be invaluable once we get to tournament time," he said.

Messam said he was very pleased to get the call-up and was looking forward to getting back into the sevens environment again.

"The change in law interpretations has transformed the pace of fifteens this season and I think getting back into sevens will only enhance my game in that area.

"I have also been lucky enough to win one gold medal already and the opportunity to win another one is not something that comes along every day," he added.

The New Zealand Commonwealth Games Sevens team assembles in Auckland this Wednesday, 29 September and will depart for Dubai on Friday 1 October where the team will be based before heading to Delhi on 6 October.

- Herald online